I WOULD ASK THAT ANYONE WHO READS THIS TRUE STORY, WOULD PLEASE FOLLOW UP WITH THE READING OF THE POEM; 'MORE THAN A LOVE AFFAIR', WHICH WAS INSPIRED, IN PART, BY THE EVENTS IN THIS STORY.
The Road that leads to Our Lord and Savior is not an easy one...there are many heartaches along the way and, if we are not careful, we forfeit the treasure of finding out, indeed, there is a Balm in Gilead. Many say to forgive is to forget...I don't agree; I say to forgive is to 'cease from pain' and to 'cease hating or condemning'. I don't think one should ever 'forget' the bridge that brought them over or the reason one was on that bridge in the first place. This is a story of forgiveness -true forgiveness and the rewards of it.(A fellow den member(Georg Mateos) recommended that one listen to Adagio ur Concierto de Aranjuez while reading his work(O Lost Son). I listened and the more I listened the more I felt one of 'His Inspirations' filling me. This is what came forth...

How did she get in that sterile place?! She later wondered, how did she get in that, that room, which looked so clean? Yet, harbored within its off-white colored walls, were the silent and hidden screams of sinews, underdeveloped bones and tissues...smells...of innocent death. What was she doing there ??!! Afterall, she had a man, a man who was suppose to love and care for her, who was more than just a familiar lover or an 'once in a while' night time companion...he was her husband.

Her husband, her better half. The object of her sole affections, the one she adored and worshipped - the man she loved with every ounce of her being! And that's why, that's why she had questioned. She could not have heard correctly, had she? Had she heard right? Had she understood the words that he spat out at her? Frantically, her mind sought for an 'anchor' to hold on to. Wasn't there children that had to be considered? There was a daughter - his, another daughter - hers, a son - his and hers and now another child on the way, but he had said... what?!! Had he said, he did not 'want' this child? 'Their' child?! The child that she was, in fact, then carrying? No! Oh no! He did not, he could not have said such a thing, she must have been dreaming! Still, she couldn't deny the engraved image of him stomping his feet - his face angry and frowning like he had just heard the most terrible news in the world. My God, she had screamed silently, wake me up! Please! I 'must' be dreaming!

She recalled how she had endured the empty bed and empty nights. But when he did come home...his warmth, his hot hands, his one-of-a-kind 'warm milk' smell, somehow made up for the days of his absence. The fact that the 'other woman', the beautiful young temptress, had just recently had her second son for him, though hard, could be ignored - again. But she could never forgive the look of pure contempt, the adamant tone of rejection that encompassed his actions towards her that day. A rejection of the life she carried said to her...said to her soul...what it did not want to hear; I no longer love you or value you, nor do I want anything that comes from you!

She had sought counseling from some so-called 'family' members, but they were no help. They said they 'understood' how she felt and she should follow his desires...but the final decision was hers. So, she found herself in that 'sterile' place contributing to its history of death.

And then things changed. Her feelings for him were no longer the same. His once 'yearned for' love making, within arms that started a flame, which only his waters could quench, now seemed to her, as a rape. A rape, not by a human being, but by some sort of animal - an 'unbearable' act. And, even before she left him and ventured out on her own, her search had begun.

It was maddening. The quest to belong to feel needed, loved, wanted - it was a wretched life. She foolishly ignored obvious warnings and plodding on, pining to be loved, she felt she had nothing. Even her children took a back seat to her desire to find love. She went down paths where she thought every new pair of arms offered what she was seeking. And for a few fleeting moments, she belonged...she was somebody's woman.

Even though they were separated, she and her ex met from time to time...as so many do, for 'old times sake'. They even decided to try again. But a 'tainted' ointment had been spilt upon their portrait and ruined it...beyond repair. A child came forth from this effort...a little girl...destined not to know the protective presence of a father in her life. Thus, the 'selfish' search continued and along the way a son was produced from one of her 'brief' affairs. Still, her 'thirst' was not quenched and she continued to seek...futilly.

Then, mercifully, 'He', there all the time - just waiting for the right moment, revealed Himself. Tenderly and compassionately...He came. Cajoling, with promises of peace, eternal life and His love, forever...He came. It was not easy at all. She walked with Him on and off at first. But eventually, she learned to trust Him. She began to change...she no longer wanted to be the 'receptable' of 'overnight stands'. And over a period of time, she stopped hurting. She was forgiven and she learned to forgive.

No, things would never be 'patched up' between her and her ex ... they finally divorced. The eros love so necessary for a marriage was gone, but agapy love, the kind she had for all mankind, was there. She could give him credit for what he was; an extremely good son who kept a job and she could, sincerely, from her heart, wish him the rich blessings of...true love.

And she? She had at last found the kind of love that was so necessary and had been searched for, so deperately, all those years. She was at last experiencing a love that made up for 'all' her pain and emptiness. It was the Love of Jesus! After all those affairs...all those beds, she found that Jesus' Love was more...much, much more...than a mere, Love Affair.

I loved this story Joyce! Our God is so good and seeking him, we will have answers one way or his other. My freedom came when my ex spouse wanted his freedom and independence. I did not know I was shackled and imprisoned by mans ways until freedom brought me back! "Kudos" my new friend!
Teresa Walker

Joyce, this is POWERFUL piece of writing. A story that needs to be shared with others. Have you thought submitting it to magazines for publishing consideration. May I share it with my Journaling2 group when we meet in the spring. Blessings Always, Brynn :)

Reviewed by Melissa Mendelson

11/1/2009

It's horrible to think of throwing away a life, and such a toll could weigh a thousand burdens upon one's shoulder. But I know faith has led me through my darkest hours, and its power can heal even the deepest of wounds.

There is no excuse anytime anywhere to say that a gestating child is not wanted. Some people can't, wouldn't, don't know how to forgive, even with His help, the abyss is so eternal deep that an eternity will not suffice to reach, of unforgiving, its bottomless end.